Debt of the Operating Partnership (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 547,964,000		$ 547,763,000
Unsecured lines of credit	136,769,000		357,092,000
Long-term Debt	1,052,821,000		1,025,542,000
Unsecured Debt	259,416,000		9,308,000
Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	547,964,000		547,763,000
Unsecured lines of credit	136,769,000		357,092,000
Long-term Debt, Gross	1,048,810,000		1,021,037,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	(4,011,000)		(4,505,000)
Long-term Debt	1,052,821,000		1,025,542,000
Unsecured Debt	259,416,000		9,308,000
6.15% Senior Notes [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	250,000,000		250,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	6.15%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	343,000		417,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Nov. 01, 2015
3.75% Senior Exchangeable Notes [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	0
6.125% Senior Notes [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	300,000,000		300,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	6.125%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	1,693,000		1,820,000
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jun. 01, 2020
Unsecured Term Loan [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	LIBOR + 1.80%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	0	[1]	0	[1]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Feb. 23, 2019
Long-term Debt	250,000,000	[1]	0	[1]
Line of Credit [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured lines of credit	136,769,000	[2]	357,092,000	[2]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	LIBOR + 1.25%
Debt Instrument, Extended Maturity Date	Nov. 10, 2016
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.25%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	0	[2]	0	[2]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Nov. 10, 2015
Atlantic City Outlets The Walk [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	5.05%
Mortgages Payable	52,624,000	[3]	53,826,000	[3]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	5.14%-7.65%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	(4,596,000)	[3]	(4,894,000)	[3]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, Start	Nov. 01, 2021
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Range, End	Dec. 01, 2026
Ocean City Factory Outlets [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	4.68%
Mortgages Payable	18,625,000	[3]	18,867,000	[3]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	5.24%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	(308,000)	[3]	(375,000)	[3]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jan. 01, 2016
The Outlets at Hershey [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	3.40%
Mortgages Payable	30,792,000	[3]	31,252,000	[3]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	5.17%-8.00%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	(1,727,000)	[3]	(2,165,000)	[3]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Aug. 01, 2015
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Tanger Properties Limited Partnership [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	3.15%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	1.50%
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	584,000	[3]	692,000	[3]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jun. 30, 2016
Long-term Debt	$ 10,000,000	[3]	$ 10,000,000	[3]

[1] Our term loan is pre-payable without penalty beginning in February of 2015.

[2] We have the option to extend the lines for one additional year to November 10, 2016. These lines require a facility fee payment of 0.25% annually based on the total amount of the commitment. The credit spread and facility fee can vary depending on our investment grade rating.

[3] The effective interest rates assigned during the purchase price allocation to these assumed mortgages and note payable during acquisitions in 2011 were as follows: Atlantic City 5.05%, Ocean City 4.68%, Hershey 3.40% and note payable 3.15%.